British Open 2012 Winner is Ernie Els After Adam Scott Collapse

South African Ernie Els won the British Open 2012 today by one stroke in a match against Adam Scott.

Scott, from Australia, experienced a late collapse on the final day of the British Open.

"I feel a little numb at the moment," the 42-year-old Els told the BBC about his fourth championship win.

"It will probably take quite a few days because I haven't been in this position for 10 years, obviously, so it's just crazy, crazy, crazy getting here," he added according to NBC's Golf Channel.

Els capped a back-nine 32 at the game held at Royal Lytham & St. Annes and confirmed his win when he buried a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

Scott, who is ranked 13 in the world, started the last round with a four-shot lead with six holes to play but later dropped strokes at each of the last four holes.

"I am pretty disappointed," Scott said. "I managed to hit a poor shot on each of the closing four holes and they cost me. As I played so beautifully all week I shouldn't let this get me too down.

"Surprisingly, I felt incredibly calm all the way round and I still feel calm now."

As he addressed the spectators in the trophy presentation afterward, Els turned to Scott and said, "You're going to win many of these. You've got too much talent," added Golf Channel.

Els' previous victories include the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Opens and 2002 British Open, according to NBC.